AVANT Compact Loaders and Land-based Engineering at CAFRE

A meeting of IAgrE’s Northern Ireland Branch was held recently in the Machinery and Buildings Centre ( MBC) of Greenmount Campus, Antrim. This involved 2 separate technical presentations. The first, about compact loaders, was by Mr Chris Slane, MD of Coagh based, Essener Equipment Co . This 3rd generation family- run business was established in 1973 and specialises in sales / service of the Finnish built range of AVANT compact loaders as well as specialist equipment for powered access and material handling solutions.

The second by Mr Peter Verhoeven, a Land-based Engineering Lecturer at   the CAFRE Greenmount Campus, gave an overview of their 2 year City and Guilds Level 3  Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Land-based Engineering Course.

AVANT compact loaders
Mr Slane used an actual AVANT 630 compact artic-steer loader to illustrate his inter-active presentation. This size of loader further extends the range of mechanical materials handling applications across agriculture, construction, equestrian, landscaping , plant rental, local authority work, DIY and others. The compact dimensions and superb manoeuvrability of these loaders greatly facilitates their use within buildings and other confined areas.  Most of the AVANT loaders are small enough to be transported with their attachments in a car trailer. The 26hp diesel powered  AVANT 630, as was on display, is less than 1.3m wide (on standard wheels), and has an outside turning radius of just 2.19m. It weighs 1.5t and is 2.55 m long but it can lift 1,1 t to a height of 2.8m. Its telescopic self-levelling boom is standard and shaped slightly offset to provide the operator with an uninterrupted central forward working view of the bucket or other attachment. The hydrostatic 4 wheel drive transmission uses heavy-duty drive motors on each wheel.

The power to each can be managed to maintain traction or to minimise surface damage as required when steering on grass or other soft surfaces.  The low centre of gravity maximises stability and the centre steering chassis joint is non-oscillating with the rear axle pivoting vertically to keep all the wheels on the ground. Additional low-level chassis or wheel mounted weights are an option for certain conditions. The 44 l / minute hydraulic system can power a wide range of optional  AVANT boom mounted attachments of which there are now more than 200 listed. These range from buckets and pallet forks to powered implements for jobs such as mowing, brushing, raking, edge trimming, log splitting, spreading, mixing, snow clearance, leaf blowing, lawn care and many more. 

AVANT’s centre-pivot steer loaders range in size from the 22hp 400 series lifting 0.55 t to 2.5m through the 500, 600, 700 series to the largest 57hp 860i with 80 l / min hydraulics and rated to lift 1.9t up to 3.5m. There are also battery powered versions such as the 500 series e6 which lifts 0.9t to 2.79m. 

A detailed question and discussion period followed. More technical details of all the AVANT loaders / accessories and other product lines can be viewed on the www.essener.co.uk website. 

CAFRE Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Land Based Engineering 
Mr Verhoeven then described the content and running of this popular course with its combined theory and practical content which provides the necessary underpinning knowledge and practical skills to work as a service engineer. In addition to their training provided within the Greenmount  Campus facilities the individual students also take a supervised work placement of 150 hours with a commercial service garage or dealership. The clean, modern and comfortable facilities within the Machinery and Buildings Centre (MBC) ensure that all the learning and practical work can proceed in a warm dry environment regardless of outside weather conditions. 

For entry to the course, prospective students require a minimum 4  GCSEs, including Maths and English Language, as well as 40 hours of previous relevant experience. Entry is allocated each year on a points based system.

The main areas of study include:-

Classroom learning of the theory of engines, tractors and farm machinery.

The MBC now also has electronic simulators where students can virtually sit to operate controls and steer through a realistic driver’s view of moving digital pictures of tractors / machinery at work in the field.  

“Learning by doing” when servicing  and repairing tractors and all types of agricultural machinery. Real diesel engines are taken apart and rebuilt. There is a wide available selection of actual tractors, Telehandlers and machinery to work on. The 3 separate workshops within the spacious buildings have high access doors permitting the largest machines (including self- propelled forage harvesters and combines) to be brought in for attention. This involves hydraulics, steering, brakes, clutches as well as electrical systems, including starters and alternators, across the range of machinery types and applications.

Students also learn how to use electronic diagnostic equipment as well as  taking apart and rebuilding a semi-powershift tractor transmission. 

The largest workshop area has 8 separate ventilated welding bays for both teaching and student fabrication projects. 

Training is provided to develop the vital practical skills for safe use of workshop equipment including jacks, axle stands, an engine crane, angle grinders and MIG welders.

Individual students do work placements, of 150 hours, during the course, with a commercial farm machinery garage or dealership. CAFRE ensures that the host environment is suitable and has adequate insurance cover in place for the student working there. 

Students go on an organised annual study tour involving visits to main dealerships, agricultural machinery manufacturers or other relevant sites of interest within the UK and Ireland.

Successful completion of the Level 3 advanced Diploma is broadly equivalent to gaining 3 “A” levels . Students can then go on to complete accreditation (“serve their time”) as a trade qualified service engineer with a dealership.  It is also recognised as the basis for entry if a student wishes to study further in other, up to degree level, CAFRE based courses,

More details about all of this (including an information video about the course)  may be viewed on www.cafre.ac.uk      

We then enjoyed an inter-active discussion with CAFRE staff members around the details of organising and running this busy course before they conducted us on a tour of the impressive MBC facilities.

IAgrE Northern Ireland Branch Chairman Ken Gardner thanked both speakers for their most enjoyable and informative  presentations as well as CAFRE and staff for the their warm welcome and use of the venue.